Countdown to kit launch

AFC Wimbledon’s new Admiral kits will be launched on Sunday and as part of our countdown we thought we'd look back at the kit our current manager was wearing in his playing days.

Pictured is Neal Ardley celebrating a hard-earned point after another match when Wimbledon refused to buckle against one of the Premier League’s leading lights (on this occasion a 2-2 draw at then title contenders Leeds United).

Season 1993/94 saw the top-flight renamed the FA Carling Premiership and with it came the introduction of American style squad numbers and names on the back of players’ shirts. A youthful winger called Neal Ardley is allocated 26 and wears this for two seasons before ‘moving up’ to number 18 in 1995/96. By the start of the 1998/99 campaign, Neal had acquired the 12 jersey, vacated by Chris Perry following his £4 million move to Tottenham Hotspur. For the last two recognisable seasons of Wimbledon FC, Neal finally made it into the ‘first XI’ after taking over Carl Cort’s number seven shirt in 2000.

Supporters will be able to see the club’s new home and away kits for the first time on 3 July at Centre Court Shopping Centre. The kit launch will be taking place after a huge moment for the club as we look to turn Wimbledon Town Centre yellow and blue to celebrate our play-off heroes, who will be parading the trophy on an open-top bus.